New Labour leader Gordon Brown has pledged to bring together “all the forces of compassion” in ending child poverty in Britain.

In his inaugural speech as leader Brown did not make any specific policy commitments on child poverty, but said he wanted to enlist councils and charities in meeting the government’s 2020 target of eradicating child poverty.

Brown, who will become prime minister on Wednesday, said that the NHS, education and housing were his top domestic priorities, pledging that the housing minister would sit in the cabinet.